Good luck Hafsa
Our latest work experience trainee, Hafsa Ali, recently finished her traineeship with us and we asked her to reflect on her role as our Heath Hands Trainee Gardener over the past few months. Find out how she got on below.
"I've always loved gardening, and I'm looking to develop my career, so the Trainee Gardener role on offer this summer was a perfect fit"
Having heard about Heath Hands whilst undertaking a permaculture course at nearby Kentish Town City Farm, Hafsa joined the team in July 2022. She quickly found herself working alongside our staff and volunteers during one of the most challenging summers on record for gardeners with unprecedented heat and dry weather.
"There was a lot of watering! Particularly as we've been doing a lot of planting of pollinator-friendly plants and new native hedgerows around Parliament Hill. It was a challenge to be working outdoors at times with the heat and pollen, but the results (after lots of rain and hard work) are fantastic."
Hafsa got the opportunity to shadow experienced gardeners at the Hill Garden and Keats House and to take part in conservation sessions. "I found that many of our volunteers had incredible knowledge too, there's always something to learn and discover working alongside people outdoors."
She also got stuck into some of Heath Hands’ other activities, including preparing for our Conker Championship event, helping supervise our youth volunteering sessions and hosting groups.
Hafsa was Heath Hands' fourth work experience trainee this year, recently completing her 12-week placement.
"I've loved working at Heath Hands. I'm pleased to have secured a longer-term job in the catering sector, but I'll be back on the Heath soon and look forward to growing my interlinked interests in horticulture, food growing and cookery.’
We wish Hafsa well and hope to see her on the Heath soon!
Our paid work experience placements on Hampstead Heath are part of our pathways into the environmental sector programme, which provides a range of opportunities to gain experience and skills in the sector. Our 2022 placements are kindly funded by the Government's Green Recovery Challenge Fund.
